As China approaches the final year of its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), significant progress has been made in achieving key economic, social, and technological development targets. Several objectives have not only been met but have been completed ahead of schedule, reflecting the country’s accelerated efforts in economic reform, infrastructure development, and technological advancement. These early achievements provide insight into China’s strategic priorities and its trajectory for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.
Strengthening Social Security: Expanding Pension Coverage
One of the key targets under the 14th Five-Year Plan was to expand basic pension insurance coverage to 95% of the eligible population. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, this goal was achieved ahead of schedule by the end of 2024, with over 1.073 billion people covered. This milestone cements China’s position as the country with the world’s largest social security system, ensuring greater financial stability for an aging population. The government has also introduced several policy measures to enhance social security, providing a broader safety net and reinforcing long-term economic resilience.
Healthcare Capacity: Increasing Medical Professionals
The plan set targets for the number of licensed (assistant) physicians and registered nurses per 1,000 people at 3.2 and 3.8, respectively, by 2025. By the end of 2023, the numbers had already reached 3.4 and 4, surpassing projections. The increase in medical personnel highlights China’s ongoing investment in healthcare infrastructure and professional training. This expansion is crucial in meeting the medical needs of a population exceeding 1.4 billion, improving healthcare access, and enhancing the quality of services. Moving forward, policymakers aim to further strengthen professional training programs to address gaps in specialized healthcare services.
Environmental Progress: Water Quality and Renewable Energy
China’s environmental targets have also seen significant progress, particularly in water quality improvement. The goal of ensuring that 85% of surface water bodies meet Class III or better water quality standards was surpassed in 2024, reaching 90.4% for the first time. This improvement is attributed to stricter regulations on industrial wastewater, better river basin management, and increased investment in water treatment infrastructure.
Similarly, the renewable energy sector has experienced rapid growth, with annual electricity generation from renewable sources exceeding 3.4 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2024—surpassing the target of 3.3 trillion kWh set for 2025. China’s installed capacity for new energy power generation has now reached 1.45 billion kilowatts, reinforcing its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning toward a greener economy.
Infrastructure Development: Rural Road Expansion and 5G Penetration
Infrastructure improvements have played a vital role in achieving development targets. By the end of 2024, 89.5% of towns and villages had access to third-grade or higher roads, exceeding the initial goal of 85%. Additionally, 94.6% of natural villages with larger populations now have hardened roads, facilitating better connectivity and rural economic growth. The expansion of road networks supports China’s broader rural revitalization strategy, linking agricultural regions to urban markets and improving overall transportation efficiency.
China has also made remarkable progress in digital infrastructure. The target of achieving 80% 5G coverage in administrative villages by 2025 was surpassed in 2024, with coverage exceeding 90%. The country now has over 4.25 million 5G base stations, with an average of 30.2 per 10,000 people, strengthening its position as a global leader in telecommunications. The rapid rollout of 5G networks is expected to boost industrial digitalization, smart cities, and technological innovation in the coming years.
Agricultural Modernization and Intellectual Property Growth
The 14th Five-Year Plan set a goal of achieving a 75% mechanization rate in crop cultivation and harvesting by 2025. This milestone was reached in 2024, supported by advancements in agricultural technology, an increase in high-powered farming equipment, and the widespread adoption of automation in farming processes. The mechanization of China’s three staple grains has significantly improved efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector.
Additionally, the plan aimed to increase the number of high-value invention patents to 12 per 10,000 people by 2025. By the end of 2024, this figure had already reached 14, reflecting China’s progress in innovation-driven development. The share of patent-intensive industries in GDP has also grown, underscoring the country’s shift toward high-value, knowledge-based economic growth.
Implications for the Future
The early completion of these targets signals China’s accelerated progress in key areas such as social security, healthcare, environmental protection, infrastructure, digital transformation, and innovation. These achievements highlight the country’s capacity for long-term planning, efficient policy implementation, and adaptability to global economic and technological changes.
As China prepares for the 15th Five-Year Plan, policymakers will focus on further consolidating these gains, addressing remaining challenges, and fostering sustainable and high-quality development. The early success of the 14th Five-Year Plan provides a strong foundation for future economic growth, social welfare expansion, and technological leadership in an increasingly competitive global landscape.